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i Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 57 / Tuesday. March 25, 1997 / Proposed Rules 14097
<br /> commercial development. They mention (1993) concluded that management of Front Range urban corridor represents
<br /> the"urban sprawl" occurring from water for commercial and residential only about 4 percent of the State's land
<br /> Colorado Springs, Colorado, to use tends to channelize and isolate area but supports 80 percent of its
<br /> Cheyenne.Wyoming, as a continuing water resources, and has reduced in size population (Wright 1993).
<br /> threat to remaining populations. and fragmented riparian habitats used Unfortunately, the area of development
<br /> Some researchers hypothesize that by Preble's.They found development of corresponds almost directly to known
<br /> warm season livestock grazing may be irrigated farmland had a negative impact Preble's meadowjumping mouse range.
<br /> an important cause of the decline of the on Preble's habitat,and that any habitat Fueled by human population increases
<br /> Preble's meadow jumping mouse. creation it produced was minimal. (another 1 million people estimated by
<br /> Compton and Hugie (1994)stated that in Water diversions and associated land 2020),development in this area
<br /> southeastern Wyoming almost all use changes can impact Preble's habitat continues at an unprecedented rate. The
<br /> private land of appropriate topography directly,as well as through hydrologic results are destruction, modification.
<br /> and hydrology to support Preble's alterations to Preble's habitat located and encroachment upon Preble's habitat
<br /> habitat was heavily grazed by livestock downstream. Corn et al. (1995) and,with ever increasing real estate
<br /> and that grazing probably was the most expressed concerns regarding the pressure,an increase in the
<br /> significant factor in reducing habitat for hydrologic integrity of Monument Creek vulnerability of the species to vandalism
<br /> Preble's. Ryon (1995) cited livestock and its tributaries upstream of the Air or intentional destruction of its habitat.
<br /> grazing as a contributor to lack of Force Academy. Flood control, through Residential and commercial
<br /> structural habitat diversity he observed the placement of riprap and other development, accompanied by highway
<br /> on historical Preble's sites In Colorado. structural stabilization options, is and bridge construction, and instream
<br /> The two largest known populations of currently being considered on areas of alterations to implement flood control.
<br /> Preble's exist on Federal properties the Smith Creek floodplain that support directly removes Preble's meadow
<br /> (Rocky Flats and the Air Force Preble's. jumping mouse habitat, or reduces,
<br /> Academy) where livestock grazing is While Rocky Flats supports one of the alters, fragments, and isolates habitat to
<br /> excluded. two largest known populations of the point where Preble's can no longer
<br /> The importance of"late season Preble's meadow jumping mouse and persist.At some historical capture sites,
<br /> obesity" (the buildup of fat reserves) in has served as a refuge for Preble's, the habitat appears intact, but isolation has
<br /> jumping mice and its positive future conservation of Preble's at this probably rendered the sites unsuitable
<br /> correlation to hibernation survival, post- site is uncertain due to possible impacts for probably
<br /> Prebl e(Ryon 1995).hesites
<br /> Bailey noble
<br /> hibernation development, and to occupied habitat.A specific threat is e 1926)
<br /> r
<br /> observed that jumping mice avoid roads
<br /> successful reproduction has been well potential disruption of the current and runways. Roads, trails, a
<br /> documented (Nichols and Conley 1982. hydrology by mining operations. linear development through r r oth othe
<br /> Muchlinski I980, Falk and Millar 1987. Alluvial aggregate extraction, often in or habitat may act as barriers movement.
<br /> Brown 1970). Preble's entering near riparian habitats.continues to
<br /> hibernation with low fat reserves would expand as development intensifies Corn et al. (1995) proposed that a I00
<br /> be less likely to survive the winter or to along the Colorado Front Range. At in (328 ft) buffer of unaltered habitat be
<br /> successfully breed the following spring. Rocky Flats, there are proposals to established to protect the floodplain of
<br /> Late season grazing of Preble's habitat, expand existing commercial sand and Monument Creek from a range of human
<br /> as well as mowing or burning, could gravel extraction and processing activities that might adversely Affect
<br /> adversely affect Preble's by reducing the activities in the Rock Creek drainage Preble's or its habitat.
<br /> availability of food resources essential both outside and within the boundary of Development and heavy use of trails
<br /> for buildup of fat reserves. Rocky Flats.The Department of Energy within occupied Preble's habitats may
<br /> City of Boulder Open Space lands does not control mineral rights on the impact the species by destroying its
<br /> endured intensive grazing, farming,or land in question. Proposed mining habitat, nests,and food resources,or by
<br /> haying regimes until they became part operations are consistent with Jefferson disrupting behavior. Recreational trail
<br /> of the City of Boulder Open Space County zoning. Results of ongoing systems have been established or are
<br /> system. Grazing and haying continue on hydrological studies will be used by proposed along may riparian corridors
<br /> sites supporting Preble's, largely as land Jefferson County in site plan review. within Preble's range. Heavily used
<br /> management tools. Impacts of current Without careful planning Preble's recreational trails currently exist on City
<br /> management practices to Preble's and meadow jumping mouse habitats could of Boulder Open Space lands, including
<br /> their habitats are unknown.Given the be impacted by the Department of sites that support Preble's. Based on
<br /> relatively low numbers of Preble's found Energy's planned bioremediation (the information received by the Service's
<br /> during recent surveys of City of Boulder detoxification of toxic substances using Colorado Field Office, a new paved trail
<br /> Open Space sites,continuation of any biological agents) and hazardous is currently proposed by the City of
<br /> land management practices detrimental contaminant cleanup, associated water Boulder within the Burke 1 and
<br /> to Preble's and their habitat may management practices designed to Gephard sites along South Boulder
<br /> contribute to extirpation from these contain hazardous materials spills and Creek.
<br /> sites. prevent their migration offsite, and dam Habitat alteration may in turn
<br /> Human development has produced safety and maintenance activities. encourage invasion of weeds.While
<br /> profound changes in the hydrology of The Colorado Piedmont east of the little is known regarding impact of
<br /> streams Flowing east from the Colorado Front Range and adjacent areas of invasive, nonnative vegetation on
<br /> Front Range. Water development and southeastern Wyoming have changed Preble's, Ryon (1995) expressed concern
<br /> management in its various forms can from predominantly prairie habitat and Garber(1995) stated that this may
<br /> alter Preble's meadow Jumping mouse intermixed with perennial and represent one of the most serious
<br /> habitat, usually with adverse impacts. intermittent streams and associated problems facing the mouse. Corn et al.
<br /> Fitzgerald et al. (1994) stated that riparian habitats, to a more agricultural (1995) discussed both the problem of
<br /> inundation of riparian areas to create and urban setting with grazing, invasive weeds and the potential
<br /> reservoirs had deceased available residential,commercial,industrial, and problem of weed control programs
<br /> Preble's habitat. Compton and Hugie recreational development.The Colorado impacting Preble's habitat.
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